Video keeps reverting to 4:3 and more!!

[BritBeef]

Wow, Videostudio is frustrating to use.

I am trying to capture to DV from my VHS player. I have my VHS feeding my DV camera via scart. I am using Video Studio 8.

I presume I will have to capture to DV as using MPEG caused transcode buffer problems.

My problem is that once DV is selected as the format, when I click on Options>capture options I don't get any settings available to me to adjust like I do with MPEG and DVD etc. In fact this is what I get:


Where am I supposed to change the settings as detailed in the sticky guide?

The other thing is that when I capture in DV mode the video is captured as 4:3 when it is in fact 16:9. I have tried changing the project properties settings to 16:9 but it still ends up 4:3. As I have no other settings to alter (when I click on capture options) how do I rectify this? When the dialog box comes up asking if I want to change to video settings, it reports the video as 4:3 when it's not!??? If I capture to MPEG it works fine and the video file is 16:9.

Any ideas as to what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks for any help.

Geoff.

[gordon_fan_24]

about the 16:9 problem...if the source is VHS, then the video actually is 4:3, it may have the bars at the top and bottom, indicating that it was originally shot in 16:9, but it was formatted for VHS by putting the bars on, making it a 4:3 frame. VHS can only record 4:3.

16:9 and 4:3 can be confusing at times, it took me forever to get a grasp on the whole concept.


As far as the capture settings, you cannot change much for DV, only the type (1, or 2). DV is simply a file transfer from the tape to the computer, that is why you cannot adjust the settings.

The properties you refer to are for capturing in MPEG. If you are capturing DV, you would adjust these settings prior to creating the final video file, and not at the capture stage. However, if capturing to MPEG (not reccommended) then it is possible to adjust the settings at the point of capture.

[BritBeef]

Hi gordon_fan_24,

Thanks for your reply. It's all very confusing?!!
When the video is played back through the VHS player, the image is widescreen (on a widescreen television). The resulting footage when captured in DV at 4:3 is not and means that the image is squashed from the sides.

How do I ensure that the conversion to MPEG for DVD output is widescreen? I have done a test run and the resulting DVD played on my DVD player on my widescreen TV is 4:3 with black bars at the sides and the image squashed.

When I capture direct to MPEG and then create a DVD it's in widescreen and is therefore perfect.

Any more help appreciated.

[BritBeef]

Anyone?

[Terry Stetler]

gordon_fan_24 already gave you the answer, but you didn't understand it so my turn at bat

The reason you can't get the right proportions in DV is because DV is always 720x480 NTSC or 720x576 PAL, even in 16:9 mode. DV 16:9 is recorded as 'anamorphic' video, meaning horizontally squeezed to fit in a 4:3 frame but with a flag set identifying it as 16:9 footage.

When this video is captured it's not a capture in the true sense but a file copy, hence you cannot change its settings. When this file is played back on a computer the 16:9 flag is read and the player makes the adjustment.

Since VS8 does not 'do' 16:9 projects (it came out before 16:9 was a consumer feature) you have few recourses that won't ruin its quality.

I would, however, suggest you download the free trial of VS10+ and try your project in it. VS10 can not only work with 16:9 projects but it can also burn them to a DVD directly.

Another alternative is if you have NERO7. The video editor in it, NERO Vision, can handle 16:9 projects and export them as DVD compliant 16:9 MPEG, author the menus and burn the disc. It's basic, but it will do the job.

[BritBeef]

Hi Terry,
You were right, I didn't understand!

I get it now though, so thank you very much. I'll try your suggestions.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi
Hi

Terry you say that vs8 does not support 16:9.
I was not sure and have installed 8 on a Laptop and it has 16:9 capabilities.

BritBeef
After capturing to Dv-Avi, right click a clip in the timeline and select properties.
What do the attributes show?

Have a read at A Look at Widescreen from the link below.
Although written for vs9 it should be relevant for 8 with the exception of the default setting in the opening screen.

Trevor

[BritBeef]

Hi trevor,
Here's the attributes after capture:
\

It's showing as 4:3. Now here's my confusion. If I capture footage direct from my camcorder which records in 16:9, the DV attributes show as 16:9 and the clip in VS is widescreen. However, as you can see from the screen shot, I cannot get VS to recognise widescreen video captured from my VHS player (via DV camcorder pass-through) as widescreen. If there is some so-called 16:9 flag, it's not being attached to the VHS footage at capture.

If I capture the video directly to MPEG and not DV, it recognises it as widescreen and successfully captures it as such. I can't capture all of the video in MPEG though as my PC can't handle it.

I have downloaded and installed VS 10 trial as suggested by Terry but I still have the same problem?!!

I'm tearing my hair out as I have 7 hours of video to capture by Thursday!!!!

Thank you so much for all help so far and as usual any more you can give is appreciated.

Geoff.

[BritBeef]

Hi Terry,
I have installed the VS 10 trial and tried capturing some test video in that but I still have the same problem. It seems the 16:9 flag isn't being applied. I have tried adjusting the project properties to 16:9 but it doesn't work. The resulting video file is never widescreen.

[Trevor Andrew]

Ok

When you capture your VHS tape, which capture type is distorted?

The DV capture to 4:3
Or
The Mpeg capture to 16:9

You can use the overlay track to stretch the 4:3 to 16:9

Change the project properties match the Dv-Avi but using 16:9
Insert the 4:3 Dv-Avi to the ‘overlay track’

Use the Motion & Filter tab

Fit to screen

You can drag the clip in the overlay track, allowing you to ‘resize ‘ using the Yellow trim points.
More options by right click the preview screen.
After resizing Share- Create Video File-Same as Project Settings.

Trevor

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Geoff.

Vs 10 has a distort clip option from the main video timeline.
Select the clip in the timeline
Select Attributes tab

drag the yellow tabs

Trevor

[BritBeef]

Hi Trevor,

This seems to work! Thanks a lot! I am creating a test file now.

When clicking 'create video file' in preparation for burning to DVD, do I choose DVD 16:9 ? as this is the only way the resulting file remains widescreen. MPEG 2 wants to revert to 4:3 for some reason.

Is there any disadvantage in choosing DVD, isn't that just MPEG 2 anyway?

Geoff.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Geoff

You should choose DVD not Mpeg 2

Selecting DVD will use a template with compliant settings for burning a dvd.

Selecting Mpeg 2 could use any settings, which may not be suitable.

Yes I know most refer to Mpeg 2, but you should use a Dvd template.

The standard template will produce a file about 4.3Gb per hour, using a bit rate of 8000kbps.

If your movie is larger than 60 minutes you have to change the bit rate to match the length of movie.

I use Tools-Make Movie Manager to create my own compatible templates
Otherwise use the custom option to set your own properties.

Read about Bit Rates and File Sizes
And Make Movie Manager from the link below.

Your settings should be similar to these:-

MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Lower Field First (for digital capture)
(DVD-PAL), 16:9
Video data rate: 6000 kbps (for up to 90 minutes video)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R) (Mpeg Audio when using VS

Hope this Helps.

Trevor